Arthur g



(No Model.)

A. G. BROWN.

01301111 CONTROLLING KEY FOR INGANDESGENT ELECTRIC LAMPS. No. 346,020.

Patented July 20, 1886.

l vi lime-mao mvqwtoz .flrt/wr 0.320102 I UNITED STATES Parnnr Orrrcn.

ARTHUR (1. BROXVN, OF BROOKLYN, NEXV'YORK, ASSIGHOR TO GEORGE \VESTINGHOUSE, JR, OF PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA.

ClRCUlT-CONTROLLING KEY FOR lNCANDESCENT ELECTRlC LAMPS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent I-io. S.-6,G20, dated July 20, 1856.

Application filed February 1 1886. Serial No. lid-I02. (No model.)

To all whom it may concerni- Be it known that I, Arrrnon G. Bnown, a citizen of the United States, residing in Brooklyn, in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Circuit-Controlling Keys for Incandescent Electric Lights, of which the fol lowing is a specification.

My invention relates to the class of devices employed for manually placing in and cutting out of circuit various classes of electrical apparatussuch, for instance, as electric lights, to which thcinvention is especially applicable.

The object of the invention is to provide a convenient device for securing reliable electrical connections between the conductor leading from the main or supply and the leadingin wire of an incandescent lamp or other translating device, and insuringa positivcopcration.

The invention is applicable to various forms of circuit controllers or switches; but it will be described more particularly in its application to incandescent electric lights.

The invention consists in constructing a switch or circuitcloser in substantially the following manner: Attached to a shaft capable of being revolved by a suitable handle or key there is a resilient arm or spring. This spring extends upon one side or the other of astationary pin, but is capable of being sprung past the pin by turning the shaft. A looselymounted contact-plateis designed to be thrust in one direction or the opposite, according as this spring, when it escapes past the pin, strikes against one or the other of two projections carried thereby. The plate is thereby turned quickly upon its pivot and placed in contact with a suitable circuit-closing point. The play of the spring will insure that the movable contact plate or arm shall in this manner be thrust iirmly into contact with the circuit-closing point or plate.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a plan view, and Fig. 2 is a vertical section,of an electric-light holder illustrating the application of the invention. Fig. 3 is a front elevation of the same. Figs. a and 5 illustrate the application of the invention to a handswitch for other purposes.

Referring to the figures, A representsa handle or key, and B a shaft to which the same is attached. A spring, i is rigidly attached to the shalt i3, and extends outward beyond a stationary contact-pin, j, which is preferably of nou-coinlucting material. tact plate or frame, 0, is provided with a contact-surface, 0. This is designed to rest against a contact-plate, D, when the frame is in position to complete the connections of an electric circuit. A second contactsurface, d, is pro vidcd for the frame, which, in like manner, is designed to be pressed against a contact-surface, 0, upon a plate, 11 The plate 0 is frictionally supported upon the shaft 15, and 0a pable of moving independently thereof. The plate 0 is moved into contact with the plate D, not by the movement of the shaft directly,but by means of a spring, F, which,when thekcyshaft is turned a suihcient distance, is bent sufficiently to allow its end to escape past a pin, f. It will be evident that the shaft must be turned a considerable distance before this can be accomplished; but when the spring is released its resilience will cause it to strike against a projection or lug, 0, upon the frame, and thus turn the frame quickly, and cause the contactsurfaces c and d to strike against their respective contact-plates D and E, insuring reliable electric connections. The plates D and E are preferably somewhat resilient, and are curved so that as the respective contact-surfaces are sprung into contact there with the frame 0 will be held until forcibly turned in the opposite direction. hen the shaft B is turned in the opposite.dircction,the frame (3 remains at rest until the spring F passes the pin f, and by striking against a projection, 0, similar to the projection c, it turns the frame in the opposite direction, thus separating the contact-surfaces from their re spective contact points or plates. It is de signed that the plate E shall be connected with a supply-conductor, 1, and the'plate D with a contact-surface, against which one of the lead ing-in wires of the lamp is placed when the latter is inserted in the holder or socket. The plate E might in some instances be dispensed with, and the conductor 1 led directly to the frame 0.

Another method of employing the invention A. movable conis illustrated in Figs.4 and 5, which show a form of switch or circuit changer adapted to purposes'where it is required to substitute one electrical connection for another. In this instance four contact-plates, D, D D, and D, are employed, and the contact plate or frame 0 is formed with three contact-arms, '0, G and O. The arm 0 plays between the contact-plates D and D and the arm 0 is designed to make contact with the plate D and the arm (Ywith the plate D". The spring F, when the shaft is turned toward the left hand, strikesagainst the projection 0 upon the arm 0* and drives that arm against the plate D and at the same time moves the arm 0 against the plate D This movement of the plate 0 causes the connections previously established between the plates D and D through the plate 0 to be interrupted. When the shaft is moved in the reverse direction, the spring F strikes against a projection, 0 upon the arm 0, and, by moving the plate 0, causes the lastnamed connections to be reestablished, and the connections with the plates D and D" are interrupted. The arms G, G", and 0 pass beneath the projecting ends of their corresponding plates D, D D and D, and either the latter or the arms being slightly resilient, the plate 0 will be heldin whatever position it is thrust by the spring F.

I claim as my invention- 1. The combination, substantially as hereinbefore set forth, with a contact-plate,-of a movable support, a spring carried upon said support, means for bending said spring by turning said support, means for suddenly releasing the same and causing it to turn said plate upon its axis, anda contact-point against which said contact-plate is carried by the impingement of said spring. v

2. The combination of a flexible spring, a key-shaft carrying the same, a stop intercepting the path of said spring, a movable con-" tact-frame, a lug upon the same, against which the spring may strike when bent sufficiently to escape said stop, a contact-surface against which the contactframe is thereby driven, and means for holding the frame in contact with saidsurface.

3. In an electric-light socket or 'holder, a switch or key-consisting of a key-shaft, two contact-p0ints,two contact-surfaces with which the points are respectively designed to make contact, a flexible spring carried by the keyshaft, means for bending said spring by turning said shaft and for releasing it by turning the shaft still farther, and a striking-point upon said frame, against which said spring impinges when so released, thereby moving said frame, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto subscribed my name this 31st day of December, A. D. 1885.

r ARTHUR G. BROWNQ Witnesses:

DANL. W. EDGEOOMB, CHARLES A. TERRY.

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